Los Angeles – A New York literary agent testified Monday that Philip Anschutz arranged a set of private, tag-team negotiations that led to the Denver multibillionaire’s awarding author Clive Cussler extraordinary approval rights over the movie “Sahara.”
Peter Lampack, Cussler’s book agent for 38 years, is the first witness to take the stand in a legal battle between An schutz and Cussler over who is to blame for “Sahara” becoming a financial flop.
Lampack told the jury that the meeting in June 2000 at a private boardroom inside An schutz’s Denver office tower was set up by the industrialist’s partner, Howard Baldwin.
Anschutz, 67, has become a force in Hollywood by controlling Regal Entertainment Group, the nation’s largest chain of movie theaters, and Anschutz Entertainment Group, a sports and entertainment company.
The Denver meeting began with pleasantries and light conversation, the agent testified. Anschutz, who chaired the session, then tried to low-ball Cuss ler, according to Lampack, by making an offer beneath the $30 million the best-selling author was seeking for the film rights to his popular Dirk Pitt adventure series.
After hours of negotiations, Anschutz and Cussler struck a compromise: Anschutz’s entertainment company would pay $10 million per book for the rights to two Cussler novels. The author would get “sole and absolute discretion” over the first picture and consulting approval rights over subsequent films.
The meeting ended with An schutz and Cussler shaking hands.
“Sahara,” starring Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz, was released in spring 2005.
To date, Anschutz’s company has lost about $105 million on the project.
